1

Editorial

Brrrr! Not the time of year to be thinking about

tennis, but the season is quickly coming upon us and

Priorites will find themselves, as ever, motoring their

families all over the county in order to get on a court.

Swaffham Prior doesn't have a tennis court. Why not?!

We have land, don’t we? We don’t use it, so people pile

unwanted fridges on it. The Eds appreciate that the

seriously sporty types have got their own Clubs and may

not want to downgrade to a more informal setting, but for

the rest of us, a village tennis court would be an absolute

boon. Furthermore, if enough people agree, the LTA

will give us money. Not to mention whatever the Sports

and Social Club have got squirreled away! Get in touch

with Dr Parry or the Crier if you’d like to support an

application.

Congratulations, Red Lion Crib League Champs, and

too (grudgingly! The Eds did not win) , to All or Nothing,

the first local village quiz team to win our own local quiz

competition in quite a bit. We perhaps need a strictly

local little-known-obscure-facts-about-Swaffham-Prior

round to ensure this happens more often.

Meanwhile, this issue of the Crier boasts a new

correspondent, normally to be found on the front cover.

Read Thomas Newbolt’s evocative account of the recent

Advent by Candlelight, and I think you’ll agree that we

need more where this comes from. Crier correspondents

generally might like to know that BBC Radio

Cambridgeshire is looking for a local SP correspondent

(strictly informal and amateur) to give occasional News

and Views broadcasts from the village. Don’t all rush at

once!

Two Crier helpers in the news this month. Our sincere

commiserations go to Sheila Smith on the recent tragic

loss of her brother Denis. On a happier note,

congratulations to Fleur, Phil and Verity Routley family on the birth of new addition

Lucas. See you Indulging, Feasting and of course Jumbling…. Caroline Matheson

The Swaffham Crier Volume 28 Number 3

March 2004

Cover Picture: Spring Clean after Stanley Spencer by Claire Newbolt

CONTENTS

Letters_________________ 2

Easter Lilies ____________ 2

Playscheme 2004!________ 3 Our Reporter ____________ 4

Bulb Walk _____________ 8

New Electoral Role ______ 9

Lies, Damned Lies and

Statistics ______________ 9

Advent by Candlelight __ 10

Broadband ____________ 13

CROSSWORD _________ 16

School News ___________ 18

Village Gardeners _______ 19

WI __________________ 20

Red Lion Famous Victory 20

Staine Hundred _________ 21

PCC News ____________ 21 Cllr Cane _____________ 23

Cllr Fitch _____________ 22

Parish Council Notes ____ 24 Doggie Do’s ___________ 25

Church Services ________ 26

Licence Application _____ 25 Pastoral Letter _________ 26

Diary ________________ 28

White Page Ads ________ 13

ON OFFER

Cleaner Available _______ 2 Paddock for Horses _____ 14

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Jumble Sale ____________ 7

Ladies’ Indulgence! _____ 9

Moveable Feast ________ 10

Cambridge Voices Easter

Concerts _____________ 12

BVC Auction of promises 14

Bottisham Ball _________ 14

Lode Music ____________ 15

Fordham Music in Lent __ 15 Reach Fair _____________ 2

2

Letters to the Editors

Dear Editors,

Motorbikes and air rifles The extremely loud motorbike has been back in the field between Rogers Road

and Fairview Grove. It has been belting up and down along the backs of gardens and

the noise is terrifying if you live nearby. There are two small boys with an air rifle

who have been firing up into the trees with the houses behind. This is frightening

and dangerous.

Can the parents of these young people please ask them to stop.

A resident

Cleaner Available

Please Tel. 743164 for details.

3

PLAYSCHEME 2004!!! When? 26-30 July, 9.3Oam - 12 noon

Where? Swaffham Prior School and Village Hall

Who? All primary school aged children currently attending, or who

have attended, Swaffham Prior School, or resident in Swaffham

Prior or Reach

How much? £2.50 per child/morning; £6.00 for a family/morning; subsidised

places available

What? Craft, sport, music, drama, dance, trips, visitors, cookery etc

Please come to a meeting in the Red Lion on

10th

March at 8.15 to discuss programme ideas. All welcome.

Why? Because it’s great fun!

More info? Call Dee Noyes on 743864

4

From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting

Before the meeting started, I took a long hard look at the members of the PC, and

the clerk, and thought “This lot will never get the Gay Bulleid Award.” And why?

Simply because it requires some completely different terms of

reference to acknowledge many of those in the village who work for

the public good without being “good”. What I am saying is that the

GB Award has an aura of “goodness” about it, which is beyond many

who are active in other ways. This is not a criticism of the GB award.

I once, personally, all by myself, collected the Award from the WI

President and therefore can fully appreciate the great pride, and also

the enormous humility, felt by those to whom it is awarded.

But what about the others I ask? For example the School, the Parish Council, the

Youth Club, the Red Lion, the Village Hall, the Crier, Drama (is the Baroness at the

back awake and LISTENING?!!!), Art, Music, Toddlers Group, Cubs, Church,

Chapel and many others. I will be suggesting to the PC that the possibility of a New

Award should appear on the agenda of the next Annual Village Assembly. It would

require a name other than GB and the worthies after whom it could be named are

legion. For starters - ED, HH, KW, MM, JN, AC, HS, JB, FD, SP — any of these

may do. There are always very good reasons why people do not attend the Annual

Village Assembly. Perhaps in this case some will give this some thought and come

up with suggestions.

So, what was so wonderful about the last PC meeting? It displayed at its best the

conscientious attention to local concerns and welfare not only by our PC but also by

our CCC and ECDC representatives. The meeting had a good start with Steve Lang

filling the long-time vacancy on the PC. The whole village should give a big hooray

for this.

James Fitch began the serious stuff by regretting he was still unable to report on

the CCC budget. He said “The Government speaks with two voices” as “ministers

fight against each other” and that the county still has no clear idea what the

Government insists it does or how much money will be provided and in any case

there was likely to be a cap. I did not follow all the detail and James may be

reporting more fully in his piece. But no matter what your politics may be the

complexity of forming a budget against such interference and uncertainty from

central government was amply illustrated. As the sporting term goes “they appear to

be on a hiding to nothing.”

Then Charlotte spoke. While the CCC problems and decisions may be too large

for all to grasp this is not the case with ECDC. Charlotte outlined a proposed

decision by ECDC which on the surface appeared foolhardy and in ten or twenty

years time absolutely disastrous for ECDC rate payers. There is obviously a great

conflict in The Grange and the more we know about it the better. ECDC has long

served us well and we must try to ensure this continues. Charlotte was unhappy

about two things. Firstly the decision that there should be 0% increase in ECDC

rates. She understood many people will cheer about this, but thought it foolhardy and

that ECDC should learn from the dilemma in which CCC now finds itself. Because

5

CCC in the past did not increase the rates as they ought they are now in an

impossible position. She foresaw that in a few years time ECDC will be in the same

position. Because, while ECDC has a balanced budget for 2004/05, there is a

forecast shortfall for 2005/06. By 2006/07 the shortfall is forecast to be about

£500,000!! What a future to look forward to. This shortfall would have to be met

from efficiency savings, increased government grant (Ha. Ha.), a cut in services, or

from the ratepayer — unless any excessive rate increase is capped — in which case

services would have to be cut.

The second ECDC decision which appeared to fire up Charlotte was the decision

to demolish The Grange, turn it into a 220 space short stay car park (earning an

estimated £130,000 per annum), and to move the offices to an industrial estate

outside Witchford on a twenty year lease with a starting rent of £430,000 per annum

(plus service charges and repair costs). The council will also rent land on this site at

£2,500 a year (plus service charges) for possible use as a Park and Ride site. Both

rents are reviewed every five years and can only go up.

At present The Grange is rent free though there are annual costs of running it and

the place does require some urgent repairs and refurbishment. Meanwhile a traffic

and transport feasibility study is being conducted but “THEY” refuse to delay any

decision on The Grange until the Study is completed even though a 220 short stay

car park may not be wanted, or a Park and Ride site at that location. Admittedly

Charlotte was presenting her case but she maintained that the figures did not stack up

and that in ten or fifteen years and thereafter her constituents would suffer badly.

She reckoned that just to pay the rent would add about 14% to the rates. Charlotte

wanted the decision to be referred to the Full Council but “THEY” refused. Sets of

figures are available but Charlotte warned that these appear convincing only on the

surface and include the money from the sale of another piece of land in Ely which

could be kept or sold whether the Grange was demolished or not. “Just like selling

the family silver” came a voice from the back. The PC was quite shocked and

wanted to know who “THEY” were. “THEY” are the Policy and Resources

Committee which has nine members: 4 Lib Dems (including Charlotte), 4

Conservatives and one Independent.

What Charlotte fears is that the project will have gone so far by the time it

reaches the Full Council for final approval that outside bodies will demand and

possibly need to be paid huge compensation if the scheme is withdrawn. It could be

that dreadful predicament - is it cheaper to go-ahead rather than cancel? This is why

Charlotte was anxious for a wider discussion of the idea before it goes too far. She

urged Parish Councillors to raise it at the next Parish Forum (a regular meeting

between representatives of parish councils, and officers and members of ECDC) and

to look at the figures very carefully. Someone said it sounded like “a business plan

which any business person would have thrown out”.

Some years ago the structure and organisation of ECDC was changed. We were

all asked to vote on three possible options (as far as I remember) but few possibly

understood what the difference might be. Is this the result of the reorganisation? Can

any committee commit ECDC to a huge radical change before the Full Council is

6

consulted? Could this have happened before the restructuring? I hope the Grange

issue will be on the agenda of our next Annual Village Assembly.

Then on to FOOTPATHS — a subject one might have thought rather innocuous

at best and very boring at worst. But not a bit of it. It started with the question

whether there is vehicular access along Coopers Lane because the horse owner needs

access to the field and Mr Lewis needs access for oil delivery. Appropriately enough

it was referred to Mr John Cooper of the CCC Countryside Services Team who has

reported that Coopers Lane is “Footpath No 12” on which vehicular access cannot be

granted. Mr Lewis wanted to know when the barriers at the other end of Coopers

Lane were erected and will be pursuing this further. There was only one half

remembered story about the barriers, Karen will look through the minutes, but I

think a brief talk to John Norris will provide the whole story. Meanwhile I could not

help thinking this is a very local problem, which, with a little understanding and

compromise, could be resolved without involving CCC.

Of course this is not high drama, unlike the next footpath issue. This was truly

amazing and something you only expected to read in the newspaper about some

awful behaviour in some other village. But here it is, here, now, in our village, and it

appears to have been going on since 1995. There is a lane off Mill Hill and

addressed as Mill Hill which goes up to and past the old Smock Mill (the one which

does not work). At the end, past the Mill, there are plots of land the owners of which

have always had unlimited access since the Enclosure Award of 1814, and this,

including vehicular access, has been confirmed by other documents. Mr T.

Nightingale who owns the Smock Mill disputes this and has been hampering and

preventing access ever since 1995. Documents were circulated at the meeting which

alleged and recorded totally unacceptable threatening and frightening behaviour.

Walter Bradley had been the main recipient of the aggression but there are others

who have experienced similar difficulties, the latest of which is Mrs Brownsdon,

daughter of Fred Day. She had driven to check her father’s plot of land and had been

blocked in, abused and threatened by Mr Nightingale who claimed she had no right

to be there. She called the police but Mr Nightingale persuaded them that he and not

Mrs Brownsdon was in the right. “Ah!, so he’s got a slippery (or was it silvery)

tongue as well” said one councillor. Charlotte Cane was annoyed that the police had

not kept any record of another occasion when they had been called for the same

reason. Though agreeing that “The bloke was out of order” and wondering “What’s

he got to hide” the PC thought that an affray of this nature was not anything over

which they had any control. But both PC and ECDC agreed it was deplorable

behaviour, reflected very badly on the community, and that once a couple of points

have been established both would write to Mr Nightingale and to the Police stating

the facts. This may not achieve anything because Mr Nightingale has never replied

to a number of solicitors’ letters sent to him over the years. The fact appears to be

that it is not a public right of way but there is access, including vehicular, for all

landowners and their representatives.

There was much else but from now on I must just cherry pick. It was announced

that the Sports and Recreation Club had had a meeting (a huge cheer with a large

7

dose of irony went up from PC) and that they were contributing about £700 to the

new play equipment though no mention was made of any willingness to change into

shorts and run around the recreation ground. The PC was not too fussed about this

because of the danger from mole hills. Various quotes were considered and in the

end traps were considered the best remedy. Sadly there was no guarantee the moles

will not return. Karen had forgotten to print out a list of all the incoming

correspondence so, with a big grin, she said they would have to listen to her going

through it all - in detail. One of the bills to be settled was the half yearly bill

(£44.15) for the cemetery water. This was fortunately covered by the £40

contribution from the horse owner and the £25 from two allotment holders. If the PC

worked on this, the cemetery water could become a nice little earner.

In ‘Any Other Business’ a member raised a complaint about the holes in the

Village Hall driveway. “What holes?” asked the Chairman. “The holes along the

driveway”. Trevor explained that they were not holes but “necessary traffic calming

measures” because a number of mothers had complained how fast many cars are

driven down the drive. Uncomfortable though the holes may be, no reasonable

person can possibly complain about what must be the cheapest traffic calming

measure ever introduced in the village.

Alastair Everitt

PS. An ECDC Parish Forum (described above) was held soon after the February

PC Meeting and from an impeccable source I have been informed that the Chairman

of the Forum refused to allow any discussion of ‘The Grange’. So there you have it.

GRAND JUMBLE & NEARLY

NEW SALE IN AID OF THE VILLAGE HALL

Saturday 6th

March at 2.30PM

We require jumble, nearly new items, toys,

clothes, bric-a-brac, books - in fact, anything saleable

Items can be collected by or left with: Elaine Malster, 28 Fairview Grove (743894)

Trevor Jones, Sheldrick's Cottage, Lower End (741197)

Alastair Everitt, Anglesey House, 59 High Street (742974) Alternatively items can be delivered to the Village Hall

on Saturday 6th March 10.00am-12.00 Noon

We would very much appreciate your help

8

Coffee Morning 4th March

Have you any surplus unwanted Christmas presents which are needing a good

home? We need them and anything else suitable for the Bring and Buy stall. Please

give us a call on 01638 743983 to let me know if you would like to deliver them to

73 High Street or wish me to collect them.

There will be bargains galore, especially some excellent cushions and curtains,

so come with your window measurements so that you can snap them up

immediately. Shirley Wilkins, O.C the produce stall will be pleased to receive

contributions either before or on the actual day.

Entrance contributions to include coffee and cake will be left to your discretion.

All proceeds from the morning will go to St. Mary’s Church.

Kate Child

743983

9

“Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics”

Like many others I joined the ‘Big Garden Birdwatch’ on 24 and 25 January. All

it needed was one hour on either day counting the birds in the garden. I chose a

beautiful afternoon, fiddled around with the odd plant, and counted from 2.30 to

3.30pm. The result was disappointing. All I got were 2 Woodpigeons, 2 Jackdaws,

and one Collared Dove. What a dilemma. I knew this to be truthful research but I

also knew there were usually more birds. If I sent in my true report would the figures

be distorted? Would my true intelligence result in some falsification of the results?

Would anyone quoting my figures be called a liar?

And what about the houses with Bird Tables? Do not figures taken from the

artificial bird table locations distort the results just as much as mine taken in natural

surroundings? In the end I decided to withhold my results. It all made me wonder

whether anyone can be absolutely sure they know the truth?

Alastair Everitt

Revision of Church Electoral Roll, St Mary’s

The revision is taking place at the moment. People are entitled to

have their names entered on the Church Roll if they are baptized and over 16 and are

members of the Church of England or have attended worship in the parish during the

last six months.

For an application form, please contact Barbara Dennis, Rose Crescent Cottage ,

66 High Street 743939. The final date for entry this year is 6 March. If you are

concerned about the future of our lovely church, then join the Electoral Roll and

have your say.

Barbara Dennis

Ladies’ Indulgence Evening

Ladies, isn’t it time you had a treat? The Friends of

Swaffham Prior School will be holding a Ladies’

Indulgence Evening at the School on Friday 12 March,

7.00-10.00pm. We have lined up a range of pampering

sessions with which to tempt you: head massage,

reflexology, aromatherapy, facials, make-up makeovers

and more. There will also be a selection of indulgent

treats for sale including chocolates, jewellery, aloe vera health products, crystals

and bath products. Why not bring a friend for a fun and relaxing evening out?

Tickets are just £6.50, which covers entrance fee, free drink from the bar and a

pampering session of your choice. (You can purchase further pampering sessions on

the evening, subject to availability.) Ticket numbers are strictly limited; to reserve

your ticket now, contact Clare Freeman on 01638 741316.

10

The Moveable Feast - Saturday 3rd April

Enthusiasm and interest is mounting for the Moveable Feast! We have a variety

of homes in which you can enjoy delicious home-cooked food.

All we need now is for you to purchase your ticket! It is only £15 for a three

course meal. Please give me a call on 01638-743720 if you would like to come.

Numbers are limited so make sure you reserve your ticket soon. The evening starts

at 7.00pm and lasts approximately three hours.

If you are interested in hosting one of the courses it is not too late to let me know

for this or a future occasion. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Ruth Scovil

11

Advent by Candlelight

So we gathered at Advent to enjoy a sequence of largely unfamiliar choral music

and appropriate readings (wise and humorous). Both music and readings may follow

a theme. Ian de Massini and Cambridge Voices bring a scholastic flavour to these

dark afternoon gatherings. The singers emphasize the clear, dramatic presentation of

the music and words — none of that velvety ecclesiastical chanting on the sound

system at Vézelay. They are singing for us and on our behalf:

O Emmanuel, our King and law-giver,

That long-expected Saviour of the world;

Come and save us, Lord and Master. Amen.

The programme offers a jostling of concepts: serenity with silliness, the sacred

with the ironic. This is something we all secretly want. The contrasts are

entertaining, the last word of a reading bringing attention to the first words of a

hymn. An hour and a half of serious music and sacred texts might make some

uneasy; others might be driven away by the prospect of an unrelenting approach to

the liturgy.

Having paid the £6 admission (no collection this year) overcoats, hats, car-keys

and programmes organise themselves gradually to a silence or a low rustling. Ian

has decreed a meditative prelude (no chatter-hiding organ voluntary) so we keep the

whispered greetings to a minimum and concentrate instead on who is sitting where,

with whom, or on this novel experience of filling these churches to capacity in the

way they used to be filled.

Hilary Sage starts the proceedings with a reading which immediately reminds us

that adults and children can be addressed equally, and even before the music starts,

we sense the acoustic space, and growing accustomed to the candlelight, settle down.

In this hesitating light which vibrates from dark corners of the church we feel the

edges of things blurring. It is as if only in this way the music and words can

penetrate, that in this darker place the meaning can hover. We don’t understand

fully what this music means or the words — especially Edwin Muir or St Paul — but

we may catch the rhythm, a sonority, the rhyme or a phrase. Living between dark

and light we become conduits, briefly, for excellence, humour and perhaps

understanding.

Thomas Newbolt

Mobile Library

Every other Tuesday as in the Diary, 2.30 to 3.30 pm at the former

PO, and 3.35 to 4.00pm at the Zion Chapel.

Enquiries and renewals 10223 712000. Local enquiries to 742850.

Books can be returned to any branch library if easier.

USE IT OR LOSE IT!

12

ADVANCE NOTICE OF CONCERTS

OVER THE EASTER PERIOD

Over the Easter long-weekend this year, Cambridge Voices and Ian de Massini

will, once again, present a series of concerts in and around Cambridge, including in

their list of chosen venues the unique setting of St Cyriac & St Julitta's, Swaffham

Prior. Brief details are printed below: more information will be included in next

month's magazine.

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 9th @ 4.00pm

Cambridge Voices present their annual "Music for Holy Week" concert here in

Swaffham Prior, which has proved highly successful since its inception, some ten

years ago. This year, the choir has been asked to present Stainer's "Crucifixion", a

wonderfully evocative setting of the Passion narrative that even includes audience

participation in the glorious Passiontide hymns. In the first half of the concert, the

choir will perform the famous "Miserere mei" by Allegri, beside haunting

masterpieces from Domenico Scarlatti, Sir John Tavener and Josquin des Pres.

Admission will be by programme: £6 per person at the door (no concessions).

HOLY SATURDAY / EASTER EVE, APRIL 10th @ 4.00pm:

Ian de Massini, Director of Cambridge Voices, will perform the first 12 of the 24

Preludes and Fugues that make up Bach's "Well-tempered Clavier" Book 1, on

piano. These astonishingly varied works were a deliberate statement, on the

composer's part, to show the tremendous advancements he had made in keyboard

virtuosity and his breathtaking harmonic awareness and, now, this collection has

come to be regarded as The Old Testament of the piano repertoire. Please note that

the final 12 Preludes and Fugues will be performed by Ian, the following day (Easter

Day April 11th), in St Columba's, Downing Street, Cambridge @ 7.00pm. Admission

will be by programme, at the door: £6 per person per concert, or £10 per person for

the two concerts.

EASTER BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY, APRIL 12th @ 4.00pm:

To bring the Easter festivities to a close, Cambridge Voices and Ian de Massini

combine forces with The Orchestra of the Age of Reason and virtuoso recorder-

player Michael Copley (formerly of The Academy of Ancient Music and The

Cambridge Buskers) to present a concert-performance of Handel's delightfully

tuneful pastoral entertainment "Acis and Galatea". For this work, Handel has

provided some of his most sensual music for two flutes, two oboes, orchestra,

soloists and chorus. The concert venue will be The Townley Memorial Hall in

Fulbourn. Tickets at the door: £10 (£3 for under-16s, students and job-seekers).

For more information please contact Ian de Massini (Tel. 0780 1234 343; Email

iandemassini@argonet.co.uk)

13

Joanna Debenham BA(hons)

Soprano Teacher of Singing, Music Theory and Piano

A graduate of the University of Huddersfield’s excellent music department,

Joanna specialised in singing and teaches it to all levels. Classically trained, she is

equally at home with Musical Theatre and Classical techniques and pays particular

attention to sound vocal production.

Singing at weddings also a speciality.

Telephone 01638 603142

Reach & Swaffham Prior

Community Network

The community broadband project

serving the village now has its own Web

pages describing what’s available, what it

costs, and so on. For further details, see

www.rasp.org.uk

14

THE FRIENDS OF BOTTISHAM VILLAGE COLLEGE

AUCTION OF PROMISES (all welcome) FRIDAY 19TH MARCH

at

BOTTISHAM VILLAGE COLLEGE

The Friends Assn. are currently putting all their efforts into

raising money towards the Village College becoming a

Specialist Status school.

Our forthcoming Auction requires more ‘promises’ to make a

really successful evening and we would very much appreciate

your support.

‘Promises’ can be anything from £5 - £5000

(e.g. offering your own services providing gardening, ironing,

babysitting OR perhaps a day’s Computer Consultancy,

Taxi run to the airport, Case of wine, Hair and Beauty treatments).

If you have any ideas and know of anyone who can help then we

would be delighted to hear from you.

Anyone wishing to make a ‘promise’ should make contact

before 8th March.

Phone Sue Wojtowicz on 01223 811250 (ext. 265) or e-mail at

swojtowicz@bottishamvillage.cambs.sch.uk

Paddock with shelter available for one or two horses. Please contact Mrs Wood on 01638 742 020

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

THE BOTTISHAM BALL SATURDAY 3rd JULY, 2004

BOTTISHAM VILLAGE COLLEGE From 7pm till midnight

The band is BOOGIEWONDERLAND

Further details to follow ...

15

Music in the Church A programme of twelve concerts at St James’ Church, Lode

Friday 5 March 2004 7.30p.m.

Six Strings - Lyndewode String Quartet

David Bass: lead violin Prudence Rathael: violin - Lucy Milner: viola - Jennifer Lynch: cello

joined by Helen Hills: cello - Jacquetta Bennett: viola

Purcell — Chacony in G minor Mozart — String Quartet in B flat major K458 (The Hunt)

Brahms String Sextet in G major Opus 36

Tickets: Buy your tickets at: £8 for one concert Post Office, Lode £50 season ticket for the 12 concerts or Lusher’s News, Bottisham or The Barn, Station Court, Lode or telephone 01223 813070

Changes to the list of concerts in the February Crier: Friday 4 June 2004 Silverwood: Flute and guitar Friday 6 August 2004 No Concert

Friday 1 October 2004 Sarah Maxwell and Chris Jones: Soprano and piano

Friday 5 November 2004 Julian Perkins: Organ, songs and keyboard

Friday 3 December 2004 Cantilena Singers

Friday 4 March 2005 Philippa Jones: String quartet

16

Crossword Number 9 Compiled by

Sponsored by The Red Lion OUNCE

An interesting cryptic crossword this month from one of your favourite

compilers. Send your answers to the editors by 14th March 2004. The first

correct solution out of the hat will win a free meal at the Red Lion – See

Lorraine at the pub for full details.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9

10

11

12 13 14

15 16

17 18 19 20

21

22

23 24

25 26

Name…………………………………………………...……………………….

Address:………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………Tel:….………………………..

17

Across

1 Large numbers follow little

Kenneth on Saturdays (8)

5 Work with square and small particle

to produce choice (6)

8 Steering confused goat in vain (10)

9 Man is part of church, we hear (4)

10 Health problem for boy in month

after April (6)

11 Rosemary's partner heard when

landlord calls (4)

12 Note, old English leader after ship

on Roman way (5)

13 Midsomer actor loses direction -

that stings! (6)

15 Quiet redhead in old Ford to make

photograph (5)

17 Start by adding article to meal (6)

19 100 can make rope (5)

21 Narrative picture reveals saga (4)

22 Greek character with ingredient for

moussaka? "Yes", says Russian (6)

23 Complain bitterly about British

permanent way? (4)

24 Fixed bet, I've a bar contract (10)

25 One in Hard Street - really! (6)

26 Refuses to accept nice sled is

broken (8)

Down

1 Wolf under cook in Satchmo's

world (9)

2 Jealous oriental bridge player has

five promissory notes (7)

3 Inscribe tomb after dead lost from

end (7)

4 Scanner of French detective on hill

(8)

5 Poor Ron meant to decorate (8)

6 One of three stumble over pupil and

alien (7)

7 Destitute thousand leave joint

before 500 reach journey's end (5)

14 Serenely I concocted cosmetics (9)

15 Penny man 'as given to insect?

No, bird (8)

16 Shortened corny tune rewritten as

lyrical composition (8)

18 Horsehead and Crab, for example,

mixed up blue article in Northeast

(7)

19 Church evil surrounds King Herb (7)

20 Great country, bit I ran, anyway

(7)

22 Curve in left hand tree (5)

Solution to crossword no. 8

T R A P S C E A S E L E S S

E M E H R E P U

S T A R T L E C A R R I E R

T T S I S G

C H E W S S N A K E T I E

A U H R L

S I R I M A G E C R E S S

E N I N O H

S A B L E S T A I R P E A

I L P O P

B E G S C E N E S E R G E

A B I M T L

S E A L E G S C O P P I C E

I N G P E U O S

S E G R E G A T E B O N U S

We congratulate Hilary Sage, the

winner of last month’s crossword

competition, who should collect her

prize certificate from the editors.

Honorable mentions go to Shirley

Wilkins and the Noyes, Nunn, Clark,

Carrington and Matheson families.

Chris Carrington, winner of January’s

competition, would like it to be known

that her famous victory would not have

been possible without a great deal of

help from her family.

18

News from Swaffham Prior Church of England Primary School

With the end of this academic year marking 75 years of schooling on this site,

we would welcome news from any one who came to the school from 1928 until the

start of the second world war. Towards the end of the summer term we will be

holding some celebratory work and would like to invite some past pupils back to the

school. If you would like to have contact with the school, can remember coming

here or have any photographs or other artefacts to share, please phone in on 01638

741 529.

Below is a report on Class 4’s recent geography trip to Upware. They day was

fine and much enjoyed by all who went.

Joanna Lakey

Class 4 go to Upware to study Rivers On Wednesday 11th February we arrived at school at normal time and

travelled to Upware in either Mrs Hill’s car, Mr Pumfrey’s car, Mrs Noyes’ car,

Mrs Wade-Gledhill’s car, Mrs Richard’s car or Mrs Pettersson’s car. I went in Mr

Pumfrey’s car with Natasha, Thomas and Keiren. It took about 10 minutes. We

arrived at Upware around 9:30 and went straight into the building that used to

be the village school. We hung our coats up and went into the little classroom.

We went there because in our Geography we are learning about Rivers and The

Fens rivers in particular.

In the little classroom we looked at some pictures that the lady (who was

teaching us called Jane) had put it into a slide show and we had to name the

parts of a river that she showed us. We had to listen for a very long time and

then we separated into two groups. She told us how they drained the Fens with a

clay model of it. One group had a map (as large as the table) of the Fens that

they had to place some names of places and things and had to place them on the

map. After that they had to mark it on their own map and if they finished that

then there was about five trays of sand and we had to make a river and put all

the contents of a river in it. While one group was doing that activity the other

group was doing an experiment with sand. There was a little slide that had a

layer of sand on and she made a line down the middle with another line leading

down to it. Then we had to place a stone and a miniature house somewhere on the

slide. We had to draw what it looked like then. Next she poured a little bit of

water down the line and we had to draw what it looked like then and had to

answer some questions about what happened. Lastly she poured a jug full of

water into it and quite a few houses and stones fell into the red box at the

bottom of the slide. We also had to draw and write about what happened. Then

19

VILLAGE GARDENERS

Dr. Peter Grubb gave us a fascinating illustrated talk about the

Devil's Ditch. He is a Cambridge University botanist who has a

long association with the ditch, and is now chairman of its

“Friends”.

We had a brief history of the 7 mile, man-made chalk earthwork,

which is post Roman — probably ninth century: a more detailed picture of its rare

plants and insects; the different habitats, and then discussed the problems of its

management that have arisen since the invasion of scruband the last

decades,sheepgrazing.

The rare plants — Spotted Cats Ears, Lizard Orchids, Pulsatillas, Fleabanes,

Bastard Toadflax, Purple Milk Vetch, Hawkweed, Oxtongues, Pyramidal Orchids,

all happily co-exist with the different grasses, and the more common Bloody

Cranesbill, Wild Thyme and Marjoram.

we swapped groups. The class joined together and we talked about what we had

been doing that morning and at 12.00 o’clock she sent us, group by group to wash

our hands and get our lunches. And we ate our lunches in the little classroom.

After our lunch we went and played outside to run off some of our energy.

Once we had played outside for about 15 minutes Jane called us in and we

went into the little classroom to talk about what we were doing next. She said

we would have to put on our wellies and coats as we were going to walk to the

River Cam. So we put our stuff on, collected a clipboard, a sheet and a pencil and

met Jane outside by the car park. We followed her until we came to the banks of

the River Cam. On the sheet we had to draw what we could see of the river and

had to add some extra things in. She took us onto the platform and gave our

group leaders each one tape measure, which measured up to 30 metres, a bag of

dog biscuits, 2 red flags and a timer. The reason we used these things was

because we were going to do an experiment to see how fast the river was

flowing. We put the two red flags five metres apart and threw in the dog

biscuits one at a time. We threw three in the side of the river and three in the

middle. Then we used the timer to time how long it took the dog biscuit to travel

to the other red flag. We wrote down the results on the back of our sheets.

Next Jane said that we were just going to have a little walk round the village so

we did. We walked to the lock and had a look at that and walked back to the

Centre, got all our bags together and said thank you to Jane. Then we went back

to the cars that we came in and drove back to school. We arrived at school at

about 2.50, just in time to say goodbye to Mrs Pinhey at her singing lesson, as

she is leaving for a little while because she is having her second baby.

By Stephanie Fuller

Class 4

20

Red Lion Crib Team

We’ve won the League! After only three years of League Crib, we have managed

to come out the winners.

Our first year, it was the WOODEN SPOON. But now

we’ve managed to come out Champions. It would be nice if we could repeat the

success next season.

Pam Waters

WI Notes

The speaker at the February meeting of the WEI was Dr. Koenig,

a pharmacologist involved in scientific research to discover new

drugs, using blood cells and nerve cells.

With the use of colour slides, she described all the herbs that can

be used fior medicinal purposes and how many ingredients in

current medicines come from herbs. She warned that many

plants are safe to take in small quantities, but can be toxic if taken in large amounts.

Fro example, too much parsley can damage your liver. It is always advisable to

inform your doctor if you are taking herbal remedies.

Dr. Koenig also warned that when there is a breakthrough and a new drug has

been discovered for a certain illness, not all patients will benefit. Some bodies will

reject it, so more research is necessary.

Next month is the Annual General Meeting followed by ‘entertainment’. What

will that be, I wonder? 7.30pm on March 15th in the Village Hall.

Betty Prime

A careful regime of controlled burning was begun at the beginning of the 20th

century, which benefits some plants and in its turn ensures that the species of insects

( a lot of flies) and rare moths and butterflies— the Emperor moth and the Chalk

Hill Blue Butterfly, to mention just two, have their habitat maintained..

The Scrub — Hawthorn, Dog and Gelder roses have “invaded” the Ditch and

by increasing the fertility of the soil, have changed the balance of the other plants.

The grazing has much reduced some species and eliminated others, with the notable

exception of the Small Scabious, which is now more prolific.

So the botanists, ornithologists, archaeologists, and other conservationists don’t

always agree on the best way forward, but with financial help from English Heritage,

the “Friends” with their great and diverse depth of specialist knowledge and its many

conservations volunteers continue to dedicate themselves to maintaining the

uniqueness of what is clearly one of the County’s treasures.

Names for the trip to Kew on the 22nd May please, by the 30th April.

Margaret Joyce

21

STAINE HUNDRED The February Meeting of the Staine Hundred was held in the

Drama Studio at Bottisham Village College. Tom Mor stepped in

at short notice as the original speaker was unable to come. He was

the designer of the New World Tapestry, which tells the story of

England’s colonization attempts in America between 1583 and

1642 when the Civil War broke out. Tom Mor researched and worked on this

enormous 267ft x 4ft tapestry for 25 years. 18 of the cartoon pictures deal with the

wool industry, which was so important economically in East Anglia, starting in

Lavenham with the rich clothier Thomas Spring, who in his will left £100 to each of

the incumbents where he owned property — a total of 130 parishes!..

Another family much involved in the wool trade were the Winthrops who lived at

Groton Hall in Suffolk. John Winthrop was auditor of Trinity College and twice a

year he would spend 10 days on their accounts. His son John, who went to Trinity

College, went on to become the 2nd Governor of Massachusetts. Tom Mor

concentrated on the Cambridge connections and told us of a number of people who

went to Cambridge University before going to America where they had a hand in

shaping the New Country. The Tapestry is due to be moved to Bristol later this year

where it will be housed in the original Temple Meads Station which is being opened

to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The

pictures are clear and humorous as well as informative and so the tapestry will

appeal to children and people of all ages. Maureen Rogers gave the Vote of Thanks.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday March 10th when Mrs Twigs Way will

be talking about “John Loudon and the Histon Road”. The Outing will be on

Thursday June 10th to Belton House near Grantham, with a coffee stop at the famous

George Hotel in Stamford.

PCC News

The Church Electoral Roll is being revised, so a notice of intent is now up on the

church door. The current role, prior to revision, will be displayed until February 15.

The final roll will be on the door from March 15 (or thereabouts) prior to the:

Annual Vestry Meeting to be held on Tuesday, March 30 in the School

Hall 7.15pm for 7.30pm. Please feel welcome to join us. We need your help and

support.

The electoral roll officer is Barbara Dennis (see notice on page 9). Barbara would

be delighted to answer any queries about membership, but before 9pm please!

Evensong at Ely Cathedral on March 11 will include prayers for Swaffham Prior.

The new Dean of Ely welcomes people to attend, as an opportunity to meet

parishioners. Do let one of us know if you would like to go and we can arrange a

group visit.

Tricia Harrison

22

From our Local County Councillor

COUNTY COUNCIL NOTES MID FEBRUARY 2004.

There is never a good time to summarize what is happening in the County

Council. The movement of events is unceasing. For instance, I cannot give you a

finished account of this year’s budget debate because the final decision has been

postponed to the end of February. The reason is that one Government minister

(Clarke) is saying “you must give more money to schools” and another (Raynsford)

is saying “you will be capped if you put up Council Tax by more than low single

figures percentage”. The council is saying we can only give schools all the money

Clarke wants transferred if the Council Tax is increased by about 7/8%. Negotiations

are continuing ...

As some of you know, the Council is consulting - and getting different answers.

The majority, depending on which group you look to, is 8% or 6%. In my view, one

of the saddest things is that the pensioners and those on lowest incomes clearly want

the smallest increase, yet they are the people who are now or may be in the future, in

need of the very services (mainly Social Services) that are likely to be cut if a low

increase is finally chosen.

I have said before, and I will say it again, Council Tax is a bad tax that punishes

the least able to afford it. It should be abolished or drastically changed. My answer

to the question “what would you do?” is to raise it on Income Tax. I know it is easy

to say and no doubt has its difficulties but we certainly need a radical change from

an increasingly unfair imposition; maybe this is the incentive the Government needs

to do something and not just criticise local councils who are trying to provide

essential services in difficult times.

Another moving target, difficult to pin down at any moment is Climate Change.

Most of us are aware of it but feel relatively powerless to do anything to avoid its

unwelcome results. The County Council has a draft strategy prepared for

Cambridgeshire following the Council signing the Nottingham Declaration on

Climate Change in February 2002.

The strategy was designed to provide community leadership (we are the largest

employer in Cambridgeshire) and to raise awareness; including tighter targets for

reducing emissions from motor vehicles. This strategy will be updated by a member-

led review on climate change which will make an interim report this summer. I serve

on this small group carrying out this study, so I’ll keep you informed as it develops.

We are already aiming to improve energy saving and managing waste in schools and

I expect we will push for all new Council buildings, including schools, to be built to

low energy specifications.

James Fitch

23

EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE

DISTRICT COUNCIL

From our District Councillor

As I’m sure James will report, the County Council has been instructed to increase

its proposed budget for schools for 2004/05 by the Secretary of State for Education.

If the County Council increases its share of the tax to do this, their budget might get

capped by the Deputy Prime Minister. Secondly, the Police Authority is also

considering setting a budget which might get capped. This could cause problems for

East Cambs, as we send out the bills. If capping happens, East Cambs would end up

having to rebill (at the capped authority’s expense) probably in the early summer.

This would slow down our collection rates with a direct reduction in interest earned.

In any event, whichever authority nominally bears the cost of any rebilling, it will be

the local council tax payer who pays.

The District Council’s offices at ‘The Grange’ in Ely are really not adequate.

There is too little space and there are so many different levels that it is difficult for

anyone with mobility problems to get around the office. So we have started to look

at ways of addressing these problems. Because the options involved buying or

renting, it was decided last year to hold the discussions in confidential session. I felt

this was wrong, and said so at the time, because I thought we should discuss the

general principles in the open so that we could have wide public consultation.

At the Policy and Resources Committee in February, the 9 members of the

committee discussed the conclusions of the review in open session. They agreed, by

5 votes to 4, to move the offices to rented offices on Lancaster Way Business Park,

near Witchford and demolish the existing offices. I asked that the decision should be

referred to full council and that there should be consultation with the public, staff

and our partners, such as the parish councils, before the decision was made.

Unfortunately this request was voted down by 5 votes to 4. So negotiations on the

lease will be finalised and full council will be asked simply to consider the ‘financial

implications’ before the lease is signed.

The decision was taken because the figures presented showed that the rental

option was cheaper than staying in premises which we own, despite an annual rent of

£430,000 increasing every 5 years. I believe the figures are misleading and that if

corrected there is little financial difference between the two options in the first 5

years and that the rental option will cost at least £300,000 more each year after that

than the option to stay put. I regret that 5 of my colleagues on the committee were in

such a rush to push the council down this route when the business case made was so

clearly inadequate and when there has been no public consultation.

Charlotte Cane

24

Notes from the Parish Council February Meeting Mr Trevor Jones chaired the meeting with 6 members and 4 members of the Public.

Minutes of Last Meeting: These were agreed.

Parish Council Vacancy:

An application had been received from Mr Steve Kent-Phillips of Tothill Road. This

was considered and agreed. Mr Kent-Phillips signed the “Declaration of Acceptance

of Office” and the Chairman invited him to join the meeting.

Reports: Councillor Fitch reported to the meeting.

Councillor Cane reported to the meeting.

Matters Arising: a) Grasscutting Contract for 2004 Season: Following tenders received, it was

agreed that K H Services would be given the contract for the 2004 cutting season.

b) Vehicular Access – Coopers Lane: The status of this access lane was followed

up with John Cooper of CCC. He stated that this lane held a footpath status

(footpath No.12) and that he could not sanction any vehicular access to this lane.

c) Play Area – New Equipment: The application for Lottery funding is now

complete and will be submitted shortly. The Sports & Recreation Committee has

agreed verbally to contribute to the funding of this project.

d) Whiteway Drove – Enforcement Notice: The Clerk confirmed with CCC that the

removal of waste materials is continuing. CCC continue to monitor progress.

Correspondence received re access to “Allotment Plot”, Mill Hill: It has

been brought to the Parish Council’s attention that access to an allotment plot on

Mill Hill is being denied by the owners of Stocks Mill. It is the Parish Council’s

hope that this will not escalate and can be resolved in an amicable way. The Clerk

will write to the owners of Stocks Mill to express the Parish Council’s concern.

Meeting re share of Police Community Support Officer – 18/2/04: Mrs

Sandra Wilson agreed to attend this meeting.

Recreation Ground – dealing with mole hills: The Clerk has obtained prices

for the work needed to clear the area of moles. Following discussion, the Clerk was

asked to clarify some of the details.

The Wildlife Trusts – renewal of subscription: The question was asked as to

the benefits of subscribing to this organisation. The Clerk will check on this.

Referred to next meeting.

Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial: This was agreed.

Final Confirmation of Precept for 2005/05: This was agreed at £11,000 – no

increase on last year.

25

Correspondence Received: This was reported to the meeting.

Accounts for Payment: These were agreed.

Planning Applications: The Barn, 1A Mill Hill – proposed two-storey rear

extension to form dining room below the master bedroom above, along with

additions and alterations internally. There were no objections to this application.

Any Other Business: A request to install a grit bin at the bottom of Fairview Grove has been received. It

was felt that perhaps the moving of the current one to mid-way might be a solution

rather than adding another grit bin. The Parish Council would welcome the views of

the residents of Fairview Grove on this. Please contact the Clerk.

The Clerk will again approach CCC Highways about repair works needed to the

footpath on Rogers Road from the speed sign up to the main road.

Complaints about dog-fouling have been received. Reminder notice below.

The meeting closed at 9.50pm

Open Question Time: Further information and discussions with reference to the

allotment plot on Mill Hill.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday, 11th March 2004 at 7.30pm in

the Village Hall.

Karen King, Clerk of the Parish Council Tel: 742358. Email: karen.king5@btopenworld.com

Reminder to dog owners!

Please remember to clear up after your pets. The Clerk has a box of “poop” bags

supplied by ECDC. If you would like some, please contact Karen King on

742358.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1982

Notice and Application for Grant - Community Premises Licence

I Joanna Lakey of Swaffham Prior Church of England Primary School propose

to make application for a Community Premises Licence for Swaffham Prior

Primary School to commence 1 April 2004.

Any objections should be submitted, in writing, to Mr S C Clements, Executive

Director, Environmental Services, East Cambridgeshire District Council, The

Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4PL.

26

Church of England Services

March 2004

† Book of Common Prayer

ST MARY’S

Swaffham Prior ST MARY’S

Swaffham Bulbeck

Bottisham

Sun

7

11:00am

Holy Communion

8:00am

Holy Communion

9:30am

Family Service

11:00am

Holy Communion

Sun

14

11:00am

Holy Communion

9:30am

Holy Communion

11:00am

Holy Communion

Mothering

Sun

Sun

21

8:00am

Holy Communion

11:00am

Family Service

9:30am

Family Service

8:00am

Holy Communion

11:00am

Family Service

Sun

28

11:00am

Matins

9:30am

Holy Communion

11:00am

Holy Communion

Roman Catholic Church, Newmarket Parish

Masses: Newmarket: Sat 1830; Sun 1030;

Kirtling: Sun 0900;

In Bottisham Parish Church, Sun 0900 (Served from Cambridge).

27

PASTORAL LETTER, March 2004 The Vicarage

Dear Friends,

As I write this letter my thoughts turn to March and to the season of Lent. Lent is

always a special time for prayer, because we remember the 40 days that Jesus spent

in the wilderness praying.

Pray? Why pray?

What can praying do?

Praying really changes things, arranges life anew.

It's good for your digestion, gives peaceful sleep at night

And fills the grayest, gloomiest day-with rays of glowing light.

Helen Steiner Rice

Jesus put a great deal of importance upon prayer because it was the way that he

communicated with His Father in Heaven. Prayer is a wonderful gift to us from God.

As Billy Graham puts it: ‘Prayer is the rope that pulls God and man together. But it

doesn't pull God down to us: it pulls us up to him.’ Prayer is an act of faith, but

prayer also encourages faith. Yet all of us find it difficult to pray at times.

Leslie Weatherhead tells the story of an old Scot who was quite ill, and the

family called for their minister. As he entered the sick room and sat down, he

noticed another chair on the opposite side of the bed, a chair which had also been

drawn close. The pastor said, "Well, Donald, I see I'm not your first visitor for the

day."

The old man looked up, was puzzled for a moment, then recognized from the nod

of the head that the pastor had noticed the empty chair. "Well, Pastor, I'll tell you

about that chair. Many years ago I found it quite difficult to pray, so one day I shared

this problem with my pastor. He told me not to worry about kneeling or about

placing myself in some pious posture. Instead, he said, 'Just sit down, put a chair

opposite you, and imagine Jesus sitting in it, then talk with Him as you would a

friend."' The aged Scot then added, "I've been doing that ever since."

A short time later the daughter of the Scot telephoned the pastor. When he

answered, she informed him that her father had died very suddenly and she was quite

shaken for she had no idea death was so near. Then she continued, "I had just gone

to lie down for an hour or two, for he seemed to be sleeping so comfortably. When I

went back he was dead." Then she added thoughtfully, "Except now his hand was on

the empty chair at the side of the bed. Isn't that strange?". The minister said, "No, it's

not so strange. I understand."

Praying should be about us talking to God as a friend. Our Lent course this year

is entitled ‘Help us to Pray’. We are planning that it will be led in small groups

with 5 weekly sessions starting week commencing 1st March. The emphasis of the

course is on sharing our prayer experiences, learning new techniques, and

encouraging each other to enrich and develop our prayer lives.

Why don’t you consider joining us – if you would like to, simply contact me.

Rev’d David Lewis Tel: 01223 812367

e-mail: RevDavidHLewis@aol.com

28

Dates for Your Diary - March 2004

Mon 1

Tue 2 Mobile Library, Cage Hill 2:40-3:30, Chapel 3:35-4:00pm

Wed 3

Thu 4 Bulb Walk and Coffee Morning, The Manor House, 10:30am

Fri 5 Concert, St James’, Lode, 7:30pm

Sat 6 Grand Jumble and Nearly New Sale, Village Hall, 2:30pm

Concert - Music in Lent, Fordham Church, 7:30pm

Wed 10 Playscheme 2004 meeting, Red Lion, 8:15pm

Staine Hundred, Bottisham Village College

Thu 11 PC, Village Hall, 7:30pm

Fri 12 Ladies’ Indulgence Evening, Village School, 7:00pm

Sat 13

Sun 14 Crier Copy Deadline

Mon 15 WI, Village Hall, 7:30pm

Tue 16 Mobile Library, Cage Hill 2:40-3:30, Chapel 3:35-4:00pm

Village Gardens, Village Hall, 8:00pm

Fri 19 Auction of Promises, Bottisham Village College

Thu 25 Crier Collating, Village Hall, 2:30pm

Tues 30 Mobile Library, Cage Hill 2:40-3:30, Chapel 3:35-4:00pm

Annual Vestry Meeting, Village School, 7:15pm

Weekly Events

Sun 11am, Boules, Village Hall Car park

Tue 2.30-4pm Baby & Toddler Group, Village Hall

Jamsing, 10-10.45 (0-18mnths), 11-11.45 (18-38mnths), Village Hall

Water Colour For Beginners, 1- 4pm Village Hall

7-8.30pm, Youth Club

Wed Cubs, Village School, 6pm-8pm.

Scouts, 7.45-9.15, School

Thu Messy Play, 2.30-3.15, Village Hall

2.30-4.30pm Teas Village Hall

7-8.30pm Karate, Village Hall

7-10pm, Youth Club